Fire from the Hip: Thoughts on Sports & Real Life

If the game between the Rockies and Padres are a sign of things to come, we could be in for one fantastic month of baseball. Before we get into some scenarios I foresee in the first round, I'll start with the Rockies game.

1. Does anyone else feel that Tim McClelland should be made to offer his side of the story of what sure looked like a terrible call last night when Matt Holliday attempted to score on Jamey Carroll's flyball to right field? His delayed call left me and I'm sure countless others feeling a bit hollow at the end of one of the most dramatic games in recent postseason memory. If that call had been made against New York or Boston, I can't help but think that public outrage and media attention would have forced a statement by McClelland.

1A. Where were all the cameras last night? It's the playoffs and we can't see a definitive angle on a close play at home and a disputed home run? A bad omen.

2. Red Sox/Angels - Vision 1. Boston jumps out to an early lead and feeds off the Fenway Faithful taking the first two games behind strong starting pitching and the bullpen that performs as they did back in May and June. Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia prove to be the bane of the Angel pitching staff by working counts and getting on base while Ramirez and Ortiz get the key hits.

3. Red Sox/Angels - Vision 2. Angels earn a split in Boston and head home where they managed the best home record in baseball. Angels play small ball and the Red Sox fail to execute in key situations similar to the 2005 Division Series against the White Sox.

4. Yankees/Indians - Vision1. Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, and Jorge Posada continue to foul off pitches from Cleveland pitchers' Sabathia and Carmona. Each leaves after 5 plus innings, putting the strain on the Indians middle relievers. Yankees get key knocks and take care of the young Indians who struggle against Wang and Pettitte. 4A. Insert Yankee hitter here _________ hits game-winning home run in Games ____ and ___ off Indians closer Joe Borowski, breaking the hearts of Indians fans everywhere.

5. Yankees/Indians - Vision 2. Yankees and Indians split the first two games, the Indians behind a dominant pitching performance, the Yankees by way of clutch-hitting late. They split in New York in two heart-stopping one-run games. Game 5 sees Sabathia dominate and the Indians pull off a thrilling series win.

6. Phillies/Rockies - Vision 1. Phillies jump the emotionally-drained Rockies in front of a raucous home crowd and win the series in a slugfest. Neither team's starters produce a win as the Phillies patchwork pen finds a way to get it done against Colorado.

7. Phillies/Rockies - Vision 2. Colorado manages a split in Philadelphia and returns home to magical Coors Field. With a starting staff of unknowns, the Rockies hold the psychological edge against the Philly pitchers at home. The offense continues to produce with Troy Tulowitzski and Matt Holliday, propelling Colorado into the NLCS.

8. Diamondbacks/Cubs - Vision 1. Behind sterling starting pitching from Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly, the Cubs shock the Diamondbacks in the first two games. On offense, the Cubs take advantage of a few mistakes up in the zone against Brandon Webb and Doug Davis. Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez lead the Chicago offense. Arizona can't overcome some tough luck and even tougher losses.

9. Cubs/Diamondbacks - Vision 2. Brandon Webb sets the tone in Game 1 with a scintillating performance, shutting down the hit-or-miss Cubs offense. Arizona starters' Doug Davis and Livan Hernandez battle the Cubs starters to a draw in Games 2 & 3. The Diamondbacks bullpen holds the Cubs in check while the offense scratches out a couple of runs against Ryan Dempster and Chicago's pen. Diamondbacks win a tight series as Cubs fans experience heartbreak once again.

10. I have a heart-attack watching Joe Borowski pitch in the ninth inning of Game 1 against Alex Rodriguez with the bases loaded and the Indians clinging to a one run lead. Thus, I am unable to witness any of the events above. At any rate, as I said before, we should be in for a thrilling month of baseball.

Labels: AL Division Series, American league division series, American League Playoff Hunt, American League Playoffs, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, MLB Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, NL division series